Help I think I've broken something expensive!!

[mgbond]

Hi all,

At the weekend I was amusing my self with a string of roundabouts one after the other. I hit the very last one (coming back on myself) quite hard and the car sudenly understeered. I then went back through the roundabouts and back home, just before home I had to break hard and pull into a parking space to allow somone by and I herd a clunk, as I pulled off I herd/felt it again. Its worse when I steer. Just manovouring around the carpark it clunks. I don't feel it through the gear leaver so could it be the dif connecting and disconnecting i.e I've pushed something out of alignment or I've trashed the dif???

Ironically the car goes in for a service tomorrow with Plansmotorsport, buI won't be able to sleep unless I know.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Bondy

[joust]

Sounds either like the diff, or it could be just a simple CV joint gone?

J

[alex s]

Sounds Like a diff, mine did that when i killed mine.
Hope it is not.
Pain in the arse TBH. Should get mine back this week, broke the diff xmas day!!
Good luck and keep us informed, here is hoping it is a cv!

[plipton]

Is it the standard diff? Might be a good excuse to upgrade to an LSD

[GreenV8S]

Can you be clearer about the noise? Is it a repetitive noise or just a one-off, if it's repetitive does it vary with engine speed, throttle or road speed? Does it happen more under heavy or light acceleration?

[Mr Noble]

At a standstill, does it make a noise if you turn lock to lock?

If there are any creaking noises when you do, (which there should be if its a CV or hub carrier problem) then its not the diff.

HTH
G

[mgbond]

Mr Noble said:

At a standstill, does it make a noise if you turn lock to lock? If there are any creaking noises when you do, (which there should be if its a CV or hub carrier problem) then its not the diff. HTH G

Thanks Guys, It's deffinatley coming from the back so doing lock to lock wouldn't do anything would it?

When on the A3 driving for 60 miles today, in 5th gear at 80-85 in a straight line there was constant little jerks felt through the car, when on a sweeping left it got worse and the odd time it felt like the car was trying to push me out into the other lane, when on a sweeping right there was no problem. Slow speeds around town is where you hear/feel the clunks more when wheels turnt with small power. Once going in a straigh line I could apply power with turbos with no issue.

Bondy

[mgbond]

Hi again,

The clunks at low speed are quite agressive and feel like it's slaming in and out of Gear.

Bondy

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Diff it is then.

[GreenV8S]

Sounds similar to the symptoms of a failing CV joint, but I'm rather alarmed about the comments about pulling sideways. That isn't something that I'd expect from a CV joint failure unless the CV joint was completely breaking up, and at that point it is basically not going to transmit any drive so you'd expect to have one wheel drive, or rather no wheel drive because the diff will spill the power away.

Whatever it is it's clear that there is something seriously wrong and you need to get somebody underneath to have a look at it.

[mgbond]

GreenV8S said:

Sounds similar to the symptoms of a failing CV joint, but I'm rather alarmed about the comments about pulling sideways. That isn't something that I'd expect from a CV joint failure unless the CV joint was completely breaking up, and at that point it is basically not going to transmit any drive so you'd expect to have one wheel drive, or rather no wheel drive because the diff will spill the power away. Whatever it is it's clear that there is something seriously wrong and you need to get somebody underneath to have a look at it.

That exactly what I think is happening, when driving around at town speeds and turning in and out of roads it felt like one or both drives were engaging or dissengaging. When I got back after the A3 I did a right at a roundadbout and had massive understreer si maybe then the passenger side dissengaged so the drivers side pushed me to understeer.

So do we conclude its more likely I need a Diff replacement. what cost would I be looking at for LSD fitted inc VAT.

Thanks for your help Guys.

Bondy

[alex s]

Bondy, all depends on who does it and what you have done. for a straight diff swap it is labour (around 25 hours) and i know plans have new 5 speeds for peanuts. However, i would recomend going for the LSD as the main cost is the labour, the standard diff is the weak point. Or your could go the route i have which is upgrading to the six speed box, lsd and M400 linkage. Pm me if you want a chat about all the options and costs.
HTH
ALex

[mgbond]

The car went in to Plans today and it is the Diff. I may at the same time get the 6 spd box fitted.

Thanks for your help.

Bondy

[gadgeroonie]

you might want to consider getting a Quaife ATB fitted (different type of diff - Automatic Torque biasing)

they are bulletproof and you would never break one again

hope this helps